Blood Test for Testosterone - valid after a single application?
March 21, 2016 2:32 PM Subscribe
Is there a "cumulative" effect for multiple applications of a testosterone cream (applied to the skin), or would a blood test show the same testosterone values after a single application as after multiple applications in a row?
[ Yes, you are not my doctor, I am doing everything I can to get this info from actual doctors, etc. However, if you have actual knowledge that could be useful here, please do provide it. ]
I treat my low testosterone levels using a prescription delivered as a "compounded cream", which I apply directly to my skin, every 12 hours. I have run out of the prescription, 4 days before a scheduled blood test. If I save my last application of the cream for the next couple of days, and apply it 4 hours before the test (as instructed), will my blood test give the same results as if I had done the test after multiple days worth of applications?
This is my first blood test/doctor's visit since I started using the cream. We'll use this test to alter the strength of the prescription if necessary. However, my doctor is unavailable to answer this question - possibly for another week - and his staff tells me that even if they could contact him to renew the prescription, it would take 2 weeks to fill. So my choices are to take the blood test after a single application, or to delay my test and doctor exam, stop taking the cream for 3 or more weeks, restart it when I finally get the prescription refilled, and then reschedule the test and visit. I'd like to avoid that is possible.
[ Yes, you are not my doctor, I am doing everything I can to get this info from actual doctors, etc. However, if you have actual knowledge that could be useful here, please do provide it. ]
I treat my low testosterone levels using a prescription delivered as a "compounded cream", which I apply directly to my skin, every 12 hours. I have run out of the prescription, 4 days before a scheduled blood test. If I save my last application of the cream for the next couple of days, and apply it 4 hours before the test (as instructed), will my blood test give the same results as if I had done the test after multiple days worth of applications?
This is my first blood test/doctor's visit since I started using the cream. We'll use this test to alter the strength of the prescription if necessary. However, my doctor is unavailable to answer this question - possibly for another week - and his staff tells me that even if they could contact him to renew the prescription, it would take 2 weeks to fill. So my choices are to take the blood test after a single application, or to delay my test and doctor exam, stop taking the cream for 3 or more weeks, restart it when I finally get the prescription refilled, and then reschedule the test and visit. I'd like to avoid that is possible.
I would personally reschedule the test, since your doctor is doing this to see if the medication as prescribed is working, so not using it as prescribed is going to give an inaccurate test result. I wouldn't want to pay for lab tests twice.
The point of the daily application is that the doses are low, but they still stack/are cumulative within the limits of their relatively short lifespans in the body. Ideally, you'd be testing the result of stacking doses with short lifespans. For example, if your cream has a three-day lifespan in your body, the dose from three days ago is almost gone, the dose from two days ago is at half strength, and the dose from today is at full strength. You're supposed to be testing the effect of all three, not one dose the day before the test or four days later (which would probably show a result similar to your low-T baseline before treatment.)
I would just reschedule the test. If you can get your doctor's office to send documentation and refer you to another doctor or urgent care, they may be able to extend your prescription. But it's a controlled substance, so expect resistance to that. (I am not a doctor, but I inject testosterone and have dealt with levels testing timing before.)
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:32 PM on March 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
The point of the daily application is that the doses are low, but they still stack/are cumulative within the limits of their relatively short lifespans in the body. Ideally, you'd be testing the result of stacking doses with short lifespans. For example, if your cream has a three-day lifespan in your body, the dose from three days ago is almost gone, the dose from two days ago is at half strength, and the dose from today is at full strength. You're supposed to be testing the effect of all three, not one dose the day before the test or four days later (which would probably show a result similar to your low-T baseline before treatment.)
I would just reschedule the test. If you can get your doctor's office to send documentation and refer you to another doctor or urgent care, they may be able to extend your prescription. But it's a controlled substance, so expect resistance to that. (I am not a doctor, but I inject testosterone and have dealt with levels testing timing before.)
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:32 PM on March 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you have the paperwork/orders for the test, you should be able to go in and have it done early. If not, call your doctor's office and ask if you can have the blood draw done earlier. They might say yes or no depending on how "by the rules" the office staff is but it's a reasonable request. I'd give it a try.
posted by stray thoughts at 5:22 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by stray thoughts at 5:22 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Agree with rescheduling the test, it would be a waste of time. I'm not on cream but I am on a daily gel.
posted by desjardins at 7:10 PM on March 21, 2016
posted by desjardins at 7:10 PM on March 21, 2016
Response by poster: All of these answers were good, and confirmed by my doc. Thanks to all.
posted by Mr. Blint at 3:46 PM on April 15, 2016
posted by Mr. Blint at 3:46 PM on April 15, 2016
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That's a fairly hand-wavy answer, but I'm reasonably sure it'd be a wasted blood test. Do you have any option to just go for the blood test tomorrow?
posted by hoyland at 3:22 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]